Los Angeles daily herald., 1887-12-05
LAMAR'S REPORT.
Review of the Work of His
Department.
NEEDED REFORMS SUGGESTED
He Advocates a Repeal of the Pre-
emptiOn and Timber Gull
ture Laws.
! Associated Press Dispatches to the HERALD

WASHINGTON, December 4.-Thp
Secretary of the Interior has submitted
his report for the fiscal year ending
June 30th. 1t is a voluminous docu-
ment, and gives lengthy details of the
various branches OF service within the
Interior Department. That portion OF
the report referring to the adjustment
of railroad grants has already been
covered in dispatches. The Secretary
says: "Under the existing laws it is
apparent that the area OF public land
is rapidly diminishing. This would not
be an evil if the land were passing IN
to the hands Of bona-fde purchasers
for actual settlement, but the facts are
known to be otherwise. 1t is a sub
ject to which I have been forced to
give much thought, and the conclu-
sion to which have come is that the
most troubles and aliases that environ
it can be removed by legislative &C
ton, and that such action is the sole
remedy. A detailed statement of the
work performed by the General Land
Office shows commendable zeal
to preserve the public domain,
prevent fraud and illegality in the ac-
quirement OF large arrears of the pub
lie lands and to recover them from I'M
lawful possession and appropriation.
rrrpnAT rpNCrN<,
On the subject of the unlawful en-
closure OF public lands the Secretary
says: "The work OF returning to the
people large areas of public land
hitherto illegally appropriated by cor
porations and individuals engaged in
the cattle business on the plains, has
progressed most successfully during
the year. Special agents report the
removal in progress of a vast number
Of illegal fences, thus throwing open
to public use and occupancy nearly
1000, 900 acres of public land.
MORE SURVEYORS NEEDED.
Special attention is called to the
several reports ofthe Governors of the
territories, all of which are burdened
with complaints of want of public
surveys within their respective juris-
diction. ~ have endorsed the recon-
mendation of the commissioner for
$500, 000" says the Secretary, "but / beg
to urge an appropriation of 100000
not asked for by him to be specially
devoted to the survey of lands within
the granted and indemnity limits of
the railroads.
SPANISH GRANTS.
Another subject which 1 would
respectively suggest demands imme-
diate legislation. is the matter of
private grants claimed to be derived
form the Spanish or Mexican govern
ments. This legislation in my opinion
should be directed to two points.
First-To provide for the trial and
final determination of such claims, sub
ject only to appeal to the Supreme
Court.
Second-An act OF limitations bar
ring the presentation OF new claims OF
this character within stated period.
The Surveyor General of New
Mexico states that during the past
year an examination has been made
of a number of new claims and old
claims heretofore favor,bly reported.
There are yet pending before Congress,
claims which aggregate by estimate
1000 900 acres, whilst he thinks that
200, 900 acres will cover all the legal
and equitable rights Hereunder.
TIMBER TROUBLES.
The vital necessity for legisl ation
looking to the preservation of the tim
Der resources of the country becomes
more urgent every year. Settlers in
many localities feel themselves COM
PEELED to violate the law to obtain
timber from public lands to supply
their absolute wants. Legislation is
needed which would look to the pre-
servation of natural forest lands at
the head waters of navigable rivers,
and also a method OF putting within
the reach of settlers legal means OF
providing them with timber for build
ing homes, fuel and other domestic
purposes.
WHAT THE BOOKS SHOW.
Investigation shows that from
March 5, 1885, to October l., 1887, the
number of entries cancel ed for fraud,
illegality, abandonment and other
causes amounted to 81 ,07S, embracing
an area OF 14,23S, 9l8.04 acres and
making the aggregate lands restored
to the public domain As, 1858, 1894 acres.
The total number of entries and fl
ings made during the year was 24S, 17S,
an increase of 1870 over the previous
year, while the number of original
homestead entries was 52,02S, a de-
crease of 96l0 entries. Final proof
was made on 1886 homestead en-
tries, an increase of $40 entries, and
on presumption entries 81 ,402, an in
crease of 5691 entries. Under the
desert land act 2242 entries were
made, a decrease of 276 entries. I'm
der the timber and stone act of June
8, 1878, 655 entries were made, an
increase of 226.